Chapter Text
"Bobby I can't do this anymore" Marcy feels a tear slide down her face looking at her high school sweetheart. Bobby looks completely stunned. "Marcy, we moved to LA to have a fresh start" he says almost desperately, "I am going to start my new job in a week". He feels like his heart is both racing as well as breaking. This is the woman he wanted by his side for the rest of his life, he knows he has put her through hell but the move was supposed to help them get back what they had lost. "I know Bobby, I thought the move would help. I wanted it to help but when I look at you I can't help but wonder if you are going to relapse again. I couldn't live with myself if I made excuses for you and Bobby Junior or Brooke got hurt" she is fully crying now.
Bobby feels like his soul is getting crushed, his first thought is where the closest bar is and he is filled with shame. "You want a drink don't you?" Marcy asks him and scoffs when he nods, "this is exactly what I am talking about" she cries. "Baby, I don't know if there ever will be a day that I don't want to drink. I can tell you that I won't give in to that. The consequence are too dire" he says, “plus I’ve already found the local AA meetings and know the schedules. This time is going to be different. After what happened in Michigan, I know I can never go back” he tries to explain. Marcy just shakes her head, "that's not enough for me anymore Bobby. I need you out" she says. Bobby's eyes widen, "what?" he gasps. "I need you out of this house, I am filing for divorce and I am filing for full custody of the children" she declares. "Marcy, I don't have any where to go" he whispers. "Fine, three days. You have three days to find your own place" she declares before walking away and leaving him in his despair.
Bobby accepts her decision despite it feeling like he is dying. He is able to find a small two bedroom apartment. He looks around at the white walls and feels like he doesn't deserve anything better than this and so he leaves them bare to remind him of the prison he has created for himself. Bobby decides he can't go back, no matter how much pain he is in, his children deserve the best dad he can be and that is how he goes about his new life.
“Hi, my name is Bobby and I am an addict” Bobby stands before his new group. “I’ve been sober seven months now and still feel lost being here in LA. My wife and I moved here with the hopes of starting a new chapter. My last relapse- well people got hurt because I wasn’t clear headed. I’m really struggling because my wife announces that she wants a divorce and sole custody of our children” he explains. “I think the worst part is that I really, really want to climb back on that bottle, but I think that if I do- it will kill me this time” he whispers as tears start to gather. “So-“ he clears his throat, “I came here instead, I need this time to work. I need to believe that I can get to the other side” he says. He looks around and he doesn’t feel so alone anymore, he feels like maybe he can be the person he was before the addiction, the father his kids deserve and maybe, just maybe he can get his love life sorted out.
…….
“Marcy, I am just coming by to pick up the rest of my stuff, you said I could” he frowns at her posture. “I just don’t want the kids to see you coming back and forth, it’s not healthy and they will get confused” she states. Bobby sighs, “I’m not trying to confuse them, I just want my things”. “Fine” she bites out, “here” Marcy extends her hand. “What is this?” Bobby frowns and then his eyes widen when he sees her ring in his palm. “Marcy-“ he breathes out. “Look, I’m still getting the paperwork together but it doesn’t feel right to have this anymore” she explains.
Bobby can’t quite explain what he is feeling in his heart looking at the ring in his palm. “Marcy I-“ but she holds her hand up. “Just get your things” she mutters and he closes his palm and nods. “Daddy” Brooke giggles when she sees him. “Hello Princess” he smiles before sweeping her into a hug. “Did you come to tuck us in?” Bobby Junior asks. Bobby looks at Marcy and she sighs but nods her head.
“In you go” Bobby pulls back his daughters comforter. Brooke snuggles in. “Daddy, I miss you living here with us” she says. Bobby smiles sadly, “I miss it too Princess. I will say though, this will help make our family stronger. I wasn’t strong enough, and I made some mistakes. I am fixing those” he explains, “but I want you to know that no matter what- your mother and I love you very much” he whispers. “I love you too” Brooke says. Bobby kisses her cheek before he goes into his sons room.
Bobby Junior smiles sadly at his dad. “Dad is this because of the fire in Michigan?” he asks. “It’s not just because of the fire but also because some of the choices I made” he tries to explain. His son eyes him, “I think it’s a good thing” he says which surprises him. “Really?” he asks. Bobby Junior nods, “you and mom are always sad around each other. It wasn’t always like that” he says and Bobby nods not having realized how much his son was picking up on. “You are right son. There are some things I need to work on and I want to keep our our family positive and healthy” he says. “When will we get to see you again?” his son asks. “Well, that’s going to be up to your mom but I want you to know that I love you and your sister very much. You can also always call me whenever you want” he says. “Dad, I love you” Bobby Junior says in a very serious voice, “I love you too” Bobby says before hugging his son and kissing him on the forehead. “Goodnight” he whispers before walking out.
Bobby grabs the last few items he needs. He looks at the ring in his palm and he decides it is not his ring and so he leaves it in Marcy’s jewelry box hoping she won’t be mad when she finds it. “Thank you Marcy” he whisper before he walks out to his car. He is surprised to see her by the drivers side. “Marcy-“ he starts to say but she stops him, “shut up Robert” she says with tears in her eyes before leaning up and kissing him. Bobby whimpers out of sadness knowing this is probably the last time he will have this feeling of love. He wraps his arms around her waist and pours the love he has into that kiss. “Marcy” he whispers reverently, but she pulls away just as suddenly shaking her her head and wiping at her tears, “goodbye Robert” she whispers before going inside and closing the door. Bobby waits until all the lights are shut off before he gets into his truck and drives to his bare apartment where he cries himself to sleep.